12042020 WEEKEND

Friday, November 20, 2020

Weekend

photography film gardening history entertainment puzzles animals FILM FESTIVAL GOES VIRTUAL Page 10

Create change Movement looks to lift creative community

pgs 08 + 09

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

photography

A Rose-Coloured Lens The close-up

B

eauty is all around us in the Bahamas, on land and in the sea.

But many of us are too busy with everyday life to pause and really see and enjoy the astonishing sights that surround us. Veteran photographer ROLAND ROSE captures both the ordinary and extraordinary, and puts it in frame for us so we can see our environment in a new light.

Get in there with a long lens or macro lens!

Ordinary things look different when viewed very tight with no large surrounding area.

Here are a few closeup selections, from the national flower to a pink bromeliad.

Friday, December 4, 2020

The Tribune | Weekend | 03

Friday, December 4, 2020

Weekend Inside

Interview 4 – 5

Peteché Bethell tells of overcoming upheaval to succeed in her law exams - and more.

Puzzles 6 Entertainment 7 Food 8 – 9

Creative minds look to change the community.

Film 10

The Bahamas International Food Festival goes virtual.

The euphoria of Euphorbia!

Literary Lives 12 – 13 The star who went from Hollywood to cabaret.

Quarantine in history.

A new way to discover local talent.

THIS WEEKEND IN HISTORY December 4 • In 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins gathered for the first and only time for a jam session at Sun Records in Memphis.

• In 1991, Associated Press correspondent Terry Anderson, the longest held of the Western hostages in Lebanon, was released after nearly seven years in captivity.

• In 2000, in a pair of legal setbacks for Al Gore, a Florida state judge refused to overturn George W Bush’s certified victory in Florida and the US Supreme Court set aside a ruling that had allowed manual recounts.

Today’s birthdays: Musician Terry Woods

Q: What will you be binge-watching this weekend?

“Revelations Now with Doug Batchler on Three Angels Broadcast Network.”

Q: What do you miss the most about having to social distance?

“I miss getting all dolled up to go to dinner with family or friends, having an awesome night eating at places like Latitudes, Graycliff or Cafe Matisse, and then after dinner be able to say “Hey, where we going next?”

Forgotten Facts 14

Entertainment 16

Massage therapist, entrepreneur

Q: If you had to be quarantined with a celebrity, who would it be and why?

“Dave Chappelle... I gotta spend my quarantine with someone who can make me laugh out loud.”

Gardening 11

Bimini cat travels across the pond, plus Pet of the Week.

Mia Brown

Q: What’s on your weekend menu?

“Definitely Jerk Chicken and I prepare and grill myself, I love grilling, grill every weekend, sometimes twice a week and it has to be real spicy, I like it hot hot hot!!!”

What The Bahamas is watching on Netflix.

Animals 15

My Perfect Bahamian Weekend

16 (The Pogues) is 73. Actor Jeff Bridges is 71.

Actor Tony Todd is 66. Country musician Brian Prout (Diamond Rio) is 65. Actor Marisa Tomei is 56. Actor-comedian Fred Armisen is 54. Rapper Jay-Z is 51. Actor-model Tyra Banks is 47. Actor Orlando Brown is 33.

December 5 • In 1791, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna, Austria, at age 35.

• In 1952, the Great Smog of London descended on the British capital; the unusually thick fog, which contained toxic pollutants, lasted five days and was blamed for causing thousands of deaths.

• In 2013, Nelson Mandela, the antiapartheid leader who became South Africa’s first Black president, died at age 95.

Today’s birthdays: Opera singer Jose Carreras is 74. Rock singer-musician John Rzeznik (The Goo Goo Dolls) is 55. Comedianactor Margaret Cho is 52. Actor Kali Rocha is 49. Actor Paula Patton is 45. Actor Amy Acker is 44. Actor Nick Stahl is 41. R&B singer

Q: If you could spend a COVID-19 free weekend anywhere in the world, where it be and why?

“It would have to be Greece... it’s on my bucket list. It is a gorgeous country with lots of history. I want to visit Euphoria Wellness Retreat Spa... a weekend wouldn’t be enough!”

Keri Hilson is 38. Actor Frankie Muniz is 35.

December 6 • In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, abolishing slavery, was ratified as Georgia became the 27th state to endorse it.

• In 1917, some 2,000 people were killed when an explosives-laden French cargo ship, the Mont Blanc, collided with the Norwegian vessel Imo at the harbor in Halifax, Nova Scotia, setting off a blast that devastated the Canadian city.

• In 1957, America’s first attempt at putting a satellite into orbit failed as Vanguard TV3 rose about four feet off a Cape Canaveral launch pad before crashing down and exploding.

Today’s birthdays: R&B singer Frankie Beverly (Maze) is 74. Actor Tom Hulce is 67. Actor Kin Shriner (“General Hospital”) is 67. Actor Janine Turner is 58. Writer-director Judd Apatow is 53. NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo is 26.

- The Associated Press

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 4, 2020

interview

Peteché Bethell As COVID-19 affected the world, Peteché Bethell faced a suddenly uncertain future.

She tells CARA HUNT how she decided to relocate and complete her law exams from a distance - not knowing if she would be allowed - and still found time to launch an organisation to help other young women achieve their dreams.

SITTING bar exams is always a very challenging time for any aspiring attorney.

So imagine combining that with the stress of relocating across an ocean in the height of a global pandemic, with the technical difficulties that can come from having to sit those exams remotely.

Peteché Bethell managed to do all of that this year in addition to starting a non-profit organisation aimed at helping other young ladies achieve their own dreams.

“There were a lot of prayers and tears that came along the way,” she told Tribune Weekend.

Peteché had sat three of the 12 exams needed to complete Bar school back in March just as COVID-19 numbers around the world were beginning to spike.

“The Prime Minister here was saying that the boarders were going to be closed and England was also about to go into lockdown and so I talked with my mom and with my advisor and decided to come home, while I still had the chance.

“At that point, no one knew exactly what would happen and if I would even be able to still sit my final exams.”

Once in Nassau, Peteché had to finish up classes and exam presentations, getting up extra early to account for the time difference. She fortunately was able to sit her remaining exams, so that she would be eligible to be called to the English Bar. “Several of my exams, I actually sat at home and some I had to go and sit at the University of the Bahamas.”

She said taking the actual exams was a very unique experience.

“We had to abide by very strict exam conditions, we were not allowed bathroom or water breaks, and then of course there were the technical issues, BPL is not often reliable and there were times that I would lose internet. I would be giving

Friday, December 4, 2020

The Tribune | Weekend | 05

PETECHÉ Bethell being robed and wigged by her mother, Cheryl Grant-Thompson. a presentation and then my professors would ask called to the Bahamian Bar in 1988 and was the me to start over or repeat myself because they youngest person called at that time. couldn’t hear me, which is quite difficult when you “When I was in first grade at Queen’s College, are trying to be on top of it,” she explained. we had a careers week and my mom came and “Through the grace of God and with prayers I she robed and wigged me and so when she did it was able to get through and pass my exams and last week (at Peteché’s bar call), it seemed like a last Thursday I was called to the manifestation.”

Bar.” Howewer, Peteché said that she ‘We believe that The ceremony was a virtual one, had a more gradual realisation that but Peteché said that it was just as for The Bahamas law was the career for her. thrilling for her despite not being to thrive in the “I admit that I tried every single exactly what she may have origi- aftermath of the profession except law, I wanted nally thought it would be. to carve my own way. But eventu“If the ceremony had been in global pandemic, ally, I realised that all the subjects I England, then I would have been female voices must enjoyed like history, English and philimited to probably just having my be heard, and losophy had a basis in law and yes my mother and maybe one other guest mom did help steer me in the right there, but because it was virtual, a their contributions direction. lot of people I loved were able to acknowledged. It is “I also hold in very high regard see it happen. The school has also our mission to learn advocacy and being able to stand said that they will try to hold an inup and represent others that really person ceremony next summer,” from those who drew me to law,” she added. “That she said. is what kept me focused during the have broken the “I was very glad that I was able glass ceilings before challenges and the late nights.” to complete my exams, because so That desire to help others also many of my peers were not able to us, while listening led her to create the Power Passion due to technical or other reasons to and acting upon Purpose Project (P3), which seeks and their lives are now on hold,” the ideas of those to unite, inspire and connect differshe explained. ent generations of Bahamian female “I am also thrilled that I am now emerging behind us.’ leaders and game-changers. a second generation lawyer in my To achieve this goal, the project family.” has a three-tier system, she explained.

Peteché’s mom, Cheryl Grant-Thompson, was There are the protégés; young women in senior

high school, then there are the young professionals and university students, and lastly there are the leaders; successful women from various sectors and industries.

“At present, the organisation has a network of 40 mentors and more than 50 professional partners who possess a wealth of knowledge from various fields, including finance, education, agriculture, medicine, business, law, the arts, communications and more. Collectively, we believe that for The Bahamas to thrive in the aftermath of the global pandemic, female voices must be heard, and their contributions acknowledged. It is our mission to learn from those who have broken the glass ceilings before us, while listening to and acting upon the ideas of those emerging behind us,” she said.

While bridging the gap between modern and traditional approaches to life, the organisation seeks to empower young women who are presently enrolled in or are recent graduates of senior high schools throughout The Bahamas. The aim is to provide support and advice that will assist them with navigating their education, careers, finances and womanhood.

The programme has been well received since its inception back in May. Peteché now has a career in law to look forward to. First she will be called to the Bahamian Bar on December 11 and will soon start her pupilage at a local law firm.

She said that family law, commercial and corporate law and public policy and education are the areas of law that she is the most keen on.

06 | The Tribune |

down: Majority, Sago, Runic, Brigand, Steppe, Sheen, Vertex, Weekend Confer, Rider, Azalea, License (clue), Risen, Wily, Quadrant.

Strum

MuddlESoME

9+4=13, 6x3=18, 3x7=21

Straw boater, Bowler hat, Newsboy cap.

SMall croSSword

section

tV croSSword

1 8 2 9 7 223 Swimmer catches your first 3 8 1 4 1 3December test 9(3,3) Friday, 8 5 during 2 9 4 7 6 24 Join emergency (5)

SuMthiNg

2 1 9 7 1

TARGET

across: 1 Total loss, 7 Idol, 8 Cause, across: 5 Wolf, 7 Coogan, 8 Garai, 10 Tic, 11 Hoaxed, 13 Turn about, 11 Banjo, 12 Comforts, 13 Skin, clock-wiSE 14 Undone, 16 Orb, 18 Polar, 19 Weir, Best described as a number crossword, theFriends, task in17Kakuro 15 Ally, 16 Aled, 20 Sudoku is aruse, number-placing puzzle onElevenses. a 9x9 grid is to fill all of the empty squares, 18 using numbers 1 to so Ecru, seal, alga, gasp, spec.baseddown: Brydon, 21 Mayo, 229,Bell.

1 Tightrope, with several given numbers.

The object is to place the 2 Odious, 3 Alex, the sum of each horizontal blockdown: equals the number to3its 1 Lola, 2 Paloma, Hamm,numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so4the Lad,each 5 Outlook, row, 6 Secateurs, left, and the sum of each vertical4block equals the number Ciaran, 5 Weekend, 6 Leon, each column QuiZ of thE wEEk 8 Cleaner, 9 Parable, 12 Auntie, and each 3x3 box contains the same number on its top. No number may be used in the same 9 McElderry, 10 block Oscar, more 14 Bread, only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis 15 Dawn,Sudoku 17 Lav. than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro 1 Other 2Monday Child Psychologist 17 Adam, 19 Rob, 20 Oyl. increases from to Sunday increases from Monday to Sunday.

3 Chromatica 4 England 5 Virgo croSS douBt tV show: Nadiya Bakes 6 Catherine Parr 7 Majors 8 James across: NOTED Anderson 9 The Beach Boys down: TUNIC 10 Sistine Chapel.

9 2

Hro DYu EnG

Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 for today’s target solution Sudoku Answer

*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS

1

2

3

4

Down 1 He foots the bill and it hurts (4) 2 Union with no money interest in tennis perhaps (4,5) 3 Ron for example may be beyond help (5) 4 Comes up against a bill and what goes on it (7) 5 Fall of rotter in lawsuit (7) 7 Woman in daily circulation (5) 8 Means of travel by land and sea (5,5) 9 Fighting to seek political support (8) 14 Gets rid of in sale time perhaps (10) 16 Unfashionable students excel the rest (8) 18 Such is life on the rolling deep (2,3,4) 20 Plant name one needs to change (7) 21 Small companies start collections for pets (7) 23 Kind of house built badly in Virginia (5) 25 Found a sailor in the way (5) 26 Best made wagers (4)

5

6

7

8

9 10

11

12

13

14 15

16

17

19

22

20

23

24

18

21

25 26

27

29

28

30

Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Cologne, 5 Appal, 8 Pigheaded, 9 Pun, 10 Ruse, 12 Underlie, 14 Shadow, 15 Acquit, 17 Biennial, 18 Plug, 21 Ego, 22 Sacred cow, 24 Titan, 25 Economy.

Down: 1 Caper, 2 Lug, 3 Glen, 4 Ending, 5 Audience, 6 Papal bull, 7 Lenient, 11 Scapegoat, 13 Goings-on, 14 Subject, 16 Gauche, 19 Gawky, 20 Veto, 23 Coo.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Seaside, 5 Falls, 8 Oppressor, 9 Woe, 10 Lift, 12 Anything, 14 Charon, 15 Direct, 17 Bulletin, 18 Used, 21 Lei, 22 Innocence, 24 Riser, 25 Doubles.

Down: 1 Spool, 2 Amp, 3 Ices, 4 Easing, 5 First aid, 6 Lawgivers, 7 Sleight, 11 Frailties, 13 Hotelier, 14 Cobbler, 16 Signed, 19 Duets, 20 Ecru, 23 Nil.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 Weak in character (5-5) 6 Balance of advantage (4) 10 Edge (5) 11 Giving wide view (9) 12 Book with stiff covers (8) 13 General rule (5) 15 Noble (7) 17 Expertise (4-3) 19 Portend (7) 21 Outburst of anger (7) 22 Deep chasm (5) 24 Unequalled (8) 27 Lifeless (9) 28 Unsupported assertion (3-2) 29 Short letter (4) 30 In direct confrontation (4-2-4)

Down 1 Central part of church (4) 2 Citrus fruit preserve (9) 3 Amount produced (5) 4 To clap (7) 5 Capital of Thailand (7) 7 Evil spirit (5) 8 Renewed energy (6,4) 9 Much prized (8) 14 Enticement (10) 16 Communicate (8) 18 Coiffure (9) 20 Atone for (7) 21 Make believe (7) 23 A fermenting agent (5) 25 Rope with noose (5) 26 State of mind (4)

1

1 2 3 4 THE ALPHABEATE 6 7 9

targEt cAn you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid Target represents a letterfinger – or black square. across: 7 Rookie; 8 Wrench; uses 10 Fervour; number fiNgErtip feign feting 11 Voice; 12 Crew; 13 Agony; 17 Allay; FINGERTIP firing fringe gent of giftthe alphabet As in Alphapuzzle, every letter words in 18 Holy; 22 Axiom; 23 Channel; girt gite grief grin grip gripe grit the main is used. But you have to complete the grid too!

24 Gather; 25 Beacon. ignite igniter ping pinger prig reign below body of use the given letters and black squares down: 1 Orifice; 2 Journey; 3Chambers Pilot; rifting ring tiering tiger ting tinge gridtrig to start. the grid is ‘rotationally 4 Prevent; 5 Antic; 6 Sheer; 921st Fragrance; the tiring Century symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the 14 Glimmer; 15 Connect; 16 Cyclone; 19 Gauge; 20 Mirth; 21 Valet. Dictionary same if you turn the page upside down.

(1999 Solution tomorrow edition)

TODAY’S TARGET Good 16; very good 24; excellent 32 (or more). Solution tomorrow

Across 1 Loyalty is required for instance in a union (10) 6 Conspiracy story (4) 10 Not quite heaven though seasick sailors might think so (5) 11 A bad forecaster (9) 12 First-class fare for Jupiter and Mars (8) 13 Clear the ground (5) 15 Toils on making preparations for a cure (7) 17 Man of taste might rue alteration to long poem (7) 19 Mother passes round the hat for Asian teacher (7) 21 Horseman may give an ace turn (7) 22 New book (5) 24 Set ideas about part of New York (4,4) 27 It enables one to take the long view (9) 28 Derelict adobe house (5) 29 Dad’s embarked for health resorts (4) 30 They sell papers in several quarters and in streets (10)

8 1 3 2 1

Quick croSSword ● The

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals or verb forms ending in “s”.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

2

8 6 3 1 5 2 4

2 4, 2020 4 3

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off.

Solution tomorrow 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10

A

2

B

2

C

1

D

3

E

2

F

1

G

3

H

1

I

3

J

2 2

2

1

3

1 x Battleship 2 x cruiser

1

5

0

3

2

3 x Destroyer 4 x submarine

1

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ex

09

(Ded each

09

*Calls your ne

21

8

1

15

28

9

22

27

6

25

6

15

34

32

6

1

37

29

7

31

26

12

32

27

5

8

36

18

26

33

7

5

22

32

30

25

2

16

31

35

5

9

37

23

9

19

12

18

36

29

13

40

16

37

39

4

32

36

3

23

39

37

16 15 10 12 Yesterday’s

11

17

37

8

38

29Kakuro 5 19Answer 26 6

30

31

30

37

40

33

13

8

13

23

17

33

8

18

34

32

39

4

31

1

34

8

2

31

12

14

17

27

1

17

5

9

32

25

11

37

5

13

30

38

20

16

6

13

15

13

38

15

1

23

3

27

30

40

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

D

■

H

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to you text DXBEAT to 84901. Texts cost £1 plus your usua

WORD BUILDER Answer the clues so that each word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one.

Soluti

1

1 M

2

2 s

3

3 u

4

4 G

5

5 s

6

6 M

7

7 W

The Tribune | Weekend | 07

Friday, December 4, 2020

entertainment WITH Bahamians still practicing social distancing, working from home, and the kiddies stuck in the house, it’s time to turn to Netflix for some entertainment. Here are the top 10 movies and shows Bahamians are watching this week: 1. Point Break (film; 1h 53m) A young FBI agent infiltrates an extraordinary team of extreme sports athletes he suspects of masterminding a string of unprecedented, sophisticated corporate heists in this reimagining of the 1991 film of the same a name.

Top 10 movies and shows in The Bahamas

2. Virgin River (series; new episodes) After seeing an ad for a midwife, a recently widowed big-city nurse moves to the redwood forests of northern California, where she meets an intriguing man.

3. The Beast (film; 1h 39m; Italian) Leonida Riva is a gloomy, solitary war veteran, once Captain of the Army's special forces. Life and work have driven Riva apart from his family. His eldest son, Mattia, has never forgiven him while his daughter, Teresa, loves him unconditionally. However, a tragic event will force Leonida to transform into something he thought he had long buried in the past 4. 300: Rise of an Empire (film; 1h 42m) Greek general Themistokles leads the charge against invading Persian forces led by mortal-turned-god Xerxes and Artemisia, vengeful commander of the Persian navy.

VIRGIN RIVER 5. Hard to Kill (film; 1h 35m) Left for dead with his wife killed in their house, LA Detective Mason Storm (Steven Seagal) will have to make a quick recovery, expose those behind the murder and take revenge.

1h 53m) A soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies. Starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.

6. The Christmas Chronicles 2 (film; 1h 55m) Kate Pierce, now a cynical teen, is unexpectedly reunited with Santa Claus when a mysterious troublemaker threatens to cancel Christmas - forever. Starring Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn.

8. Mad Max: Fury Road (film; 2h) In a post-apocalyptic wasteland, a woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in search for her homeland with the aid of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshipper, and a drifter named Max. Starring Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy.

7.

Edge

of

Tomorrow

(film;

9.

Cocomelon

(series;

three

episodes) In the town of Cocomelon, baby JJ and his siblings go on fun every-day adventures with nursery, play, exploration, and learning - situations that any preschooler could relate to. Fun, relatable stories set to toe-tapping songs.

10. The Secret: Dare to Dream (film; 1h 48m) A widow struggling to get by meets a stranger who subscribes to a philosophy of positive thinking. Starring Katie Holmes and based onthe 2006 best-selling self-help book The Secret

by Rhonda Byrne.

700 Wines & Spirits expands delivery partnership to GB COMMONWEALTH Brewery Limited (CBL) announced its 700 Wines & Spirits has expanded its partnership with Kraven, a wellknown delivery service app, to Grand Bahama.

“We are very excited to announce the launch of our Grand Bahama partnership with Kraven,” said Ulan Dawkins, retail customer service manager at 700 Wines & Spirits.

“We initially started our partnership in July 2020 on the island of New Providence and we were very pleased with the service offered by Kraven. They provided an alternative platform in which we are able to reach our customers, affording

them the convenience of shopping for their preferred brands of wines, spirits and beers and having them delivered to their door.”

He stated that the retail chain was seeing incremental growth on New Providence each week as it related to Kraven, indicating the populace’s receptiveness to the service that was being provided.

“The opportunity to expand this service to our Grand Bahama customers was a no-brainer,” said Mr Dawkins.

“It allows us to continue to provide great products to our loyal customers, while minimising the transmission of COVID-19.”

KYLE Albury (left), Kraven principle, collecting a customer order for delivery from a 700 Wines & Spirits customer service representative.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 4, 2020

film

Bahamas International Film Festival to go virtual THE 17th Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF), running January 4-10, is set to go virtual, it was announced this week by Leslie Vanderpool, founder andexecutive director of BIFF. Named by MovieMaker magazine as one of the “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World”, BIFF

THE VIRTUAL island for the online BIFF festival

is doing things a little different this time around in order to ensure movie lovers can still enjoy a varied selection of work from up-and-coming filmmakers while staying safe.

In 2021, BIFF will be combining an intimate physical festival with a

larger online offering.

Ms Vanderpool revealed that BIFF will be engaging small audiences with limited, COVID-safe, in-person screenings. At the same time, the festival will be offering a larger online audience the chance to experience the event virtually.

“BIFF will offer a vibrant online interactive space, powered by cutting edge internet platform Filmocracy,” said Ms Vanderpool. “BIFF is proud to partner with this leading virtual platform, a company that provides innovative solutions for streaming films, networking opportunities and entertaining a broader audience.

Film fans can experience all the excitement and buzz of the festival while in the comfort of your home.”

“Streaming does not take away the quality of curation that we will showcase this year. I believe we will garner more audience members that might not have attended the film festival in person, while preserving the intimacy and camaraderie that BIFF is famous for.”

Ms Vanderpool said BIFF is proud to embrace the new technology and aims to provide the magical, island touch, creating an environment for viewing films, panel discussions, tributes, and industry networking. She added, “Film festivals around the world are adapting positively to the pandemic by combining small scale physical screenings with large scale, world-wide reach by streaming online and for the foreseeable future the hybrid format seems likely to be here to stay.”

The online BIFF virtual experience will be hosted on the Bahamas International Film Festival website. Once tickets or passes are on sale, ticket and pass holders “will enter into the magic of the virtual platform,”

‘Streaming does not take away the quality of curation that we will showcase this year. I believe we will garner more audience members that might not have attended the film festival in person, while preserving the intimacy and camaraderie that BIFF is famous for.’ said Ms Vanderpool. Pass holders can create a profile, which triggers the interaction of hopping from one virtual venue to the next, such as the information centre, networking pavilion, film venues, theeducation centre for panels and workshops, and a special events pavilion.

BIFF anticipates doubling the viewership with festival-goers, acquisition leaders, and industry professionals.

The opportunity to network online with fellow industry professionals and film aficionados from all over the world will be a great addition to the virtual BIFF, said Ms Vanderpool.

BIFF will sharing information on all its films, panels and events on its website on Saturday.

Since its inception 16 years ago, BIFF has introduced the Bahamas to more than one million film enthusiasts from around the globe and has had economic impact of over $25m on the country. BIFF has drawn attention and praise from media outlets around the world, including CNN, The New York Times, Entertainment Tonight, The London Times, Variety, Screen International, and more.

16 | The Tribune | Weekend Friday, December 4, 2020

gardening

Friday, August 14, 2020 The Tribune | Weekend | 11

gardening

December Heirloom brings and open Euphorbia!

SEEDS have many variations as I began on last week, noting that GMO seeds are not available on the consumer market, hybrids make up much of the vegetable crops as we know them, and hybridisation is deliberately created to breed a desired trait. Other variations of seed availability include open pollination and heirloom.

Open pollination is defined as when pollination occurs by insect, NOW that weor areother in December, it is high time to bird, wind, humans, natumention Euphorbia.

Euphorbia is a genus of plants ral mechanisms. Because there are comprising species (find out more no restrictions onupwards the flowofof2000 pollen at individuals, https://wcsp.science.kew.org/qsearch.do).

Most between open-pollinated familiar with the ubiquitous Euphorbia plantseveryone are moreisgenetically diverse. pulcherrima, better known as the Poinsettia, they This can cause a greater amount of seem to be everywhere as a common and popular variation within plant populations, seasonal plant for Christmas time. which allows plants to slowly adapt While the origin of this plant is Mexico and to local cli-Poinsettias that are thegrowing Centralconditions Americas,and most mate year-to-year.

As long as pollen common today are hybridised and available in a is not range sharedofbetween different white, vari- pink or red, with colors including eties within the same species, then many lesser used hybrids with swirls, mottled the seed produced will remain trueleaves, variegated or double bracts. Bracts are the to-type year after This “leaves” thatyear. color upistotypical give a display, the flower with flowers, trees and shrubs, itself is borne at the tip of and the new growth and is vegetables herbs. quite and small and inconspicuous. Another common Forplant open that pollination tobracts be successdisplays is bougainvillea as menful and allowlast a week. crop of cabbage or tioned A VARIETY of broccoliAll to create seed that is true toEuphorbia can be commonly available type, used considerable mustpatio, be or indoor plants as eitherdistance landscape, Euphorbias that given in between crop of similar our climate.

I love to types. see displays of Poinsettia are commonly As I in mentioned lastIt week December. is oneasof well, the few things that sig- and then no later than the middle length of the daylight and dark with nals peppers for example, if two the holiday season, and in times of stress and of October if needed again. In that it receives. available. or more varieties they are grown uncertainty, bring within a joyful color display to commercial growing, a growth There are many Euphorbia spea close proximity of eachremind other, me that Christmas regulator is sprayed to control the many of us and they cies available commercially. All hybridisation a likely result and is on theisway, and the time for size for the potted Euphorbia have a white latex like sap the seeds will not be true to type.

When purchasing seeds, there is and now a perfect time to but get them renewal is right behind it. Poinplants that we use. thatiscan irritate skin, it is not poiAn settias heirloom a plant usually information on the preferred in the ground. canvariety look is sad after varibeing Once you’ve moved sonous as the myth would have us believe ety that history being temperatures It is time to get growing! Cucumin has the aoffice or of home forpassed several Poinsettias into and the methods garden, on the(https://www.poison.org/articles/2014-dec/ down weeks, within aespecially family orifcommunity, labels.

It is important to read the they are not ber, broccoli, kale, cabbage, lettuce, make a reminder to begin pinchpoinsettias). similarreceiving to the generational sharinglight, of seed but but keepnot in after mind thatSome enough natural and more thriving in their and are ing tipspacket, in August, aremany cactus like are in their appearance heirloom jewellery or furniture. An none of itofis October. set in stone, and some sunshine! trays for me, as I keptMost themEuphorbia in the middle General often seed incorrectly called cactus. heirloomOnce variety be open-poladaptations to your own growing themust holiday Christmas purpose fertilizers are sufficient, preferaacool dryerspot planting than2 wet.

If in pots, duringmedia the first weeks linated, but not open-pollinated style location willtells stillme lead ittois best season hasallpassed us, many but myand grower friend to use a fast draining media, with modof September.

I have begun moving plantschoose are heirlooms. some success!

Someand plants will want to erate be them to disposeWhile of Poinsetthat Calcium Magnesium moisture Poinsettias will intoholding brightercapacity. light and they companies heirloom labels planted deeper the starting media tias, I create say hold on! I say take are important ininstrengthening not respond well to being overwatered. are toughening up and filling their Beware basedthat on dates (such home as a variety that it than others that prefer Poinsettia and plant the branching, as so manytoofbeuson the decorative do not have pots withsleeves, roots they so that they areholes for is more thanground.

50 years old), others top learned of the soil and need light to force in the They make wonhave the hard way that drainage, andenough it is a and common thing to see strong will be ready to a misidentify heirlooms by verifying germination. derful landscape plants. Iand find the branches can be very frag- erablebelooking Poinsettia in a decorative transplanted soon. Time flies in sleeve documenting hisplantsbreak will doextremely best if planted that theythe are generational best when planted ile Some and they sittingthe in agarden, few inches water.

LetorPoinsettias dry andofeach day week tory ofinpreserving passing on the a sunny orand semi shaded locainto aI seed starting tray with a qualeasily. highly suggest requestsomewhat between watering, but not to the point of procrastination is another day or seed. tion, away from nighttime ity propagation and someaprefer ing a sleeve tomix, transport of wilting they will the Christweekand between nowshine and through a beautiful Thelighting, month with of September is an eastern, southern, to be seeded straightto to aid the in ground. purchased Poinsettia, mas season. healthy crop, so, no procrastination! ideal or time to get seedingThey plants western exposure. are Carrots,branches beets, some squash, etc.,Caterpillars avoiding being broken are continuing their relentless gardeners, share your notprime tolerant of wind so much, for our growing season, and a will do the better if they are and seeded between point of sale its right assaultGet on growing vegetables as is whitefly.

Continue to seeds andfor produce as always, thathave is somewhat promany location plants that a tough time into the garden row or raised planter. destination. scout regularly signs ofand infestation andIspray as wish you happy gardening! is ideal, especially if you in the tected heat and long days of summer, If you’re saving seedsinto from When transplanted theearlier needed according to label directions of an approlive neartaking the ocean. tend to start on an increased crops, indon’t be year, surprised if there ground the new it is less priate, targeted insecticide. It is a great time to To force thepattern Poinsettia into vigour and growth during is less uniformity than the to first get go down a fresh round of veggies, and continue important to pay attention • Adam Boorman is the nursery flower There for December outside September. are some gen-of around, duelevels to natural hybridisation the nutrient as with most mulching to keep down competition from weeds, manager at the Fox Hill its originalavailable range, correct timing eral guidelines as to what that may they havecan occurred.

Arugula Euphorbia, be planted and to help to hold moisture in Nursery. the soil. Tender can contact with any of pruning, or pinching, is essento plant and when, but I find that andforgotten lettuce about, are two and andplants they that leafy greens,You spinach, lettuce,him cilantro and so on, A Bahamian grower friend Florida has withinspinach for example, as itwithout is a reseed younow maythat have, topicsweather most tial. everything seeded in the last living easilyIf for me if isthey’re grow easily a lot of quite attention. pinching perform questions much better theorcooler been producing highusually qualitydo Poinsettia crops.

His yet, bit early for them doesn’t youAs would like Itowish see discussed, at two weeks of this month in a suitable spot in the garden. notitdone, thestop Poinsettia will come into color later Eggis with us! always, you the happiest of is to trouble pinch in early September, gardening242@gmail.com. than expected, as itplant is triggered to flower gardening! Grow on, get in the garden. quite recommendation well. I am still having me from trying though! is a perennial in by ourthe climate

pollinated seeds

Adam Boorman

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

literary lives - Marlene Dietrich

From Hollywood to cabaret – Part 2 Sir Christopher Ondaatje continues his biography of Marlene Dietrich - the German-American actress who starred in early Hollywood films such as Morocco (1930) and Shanghai Express (1932) and was later a high-profile entertainer in the United States and Europe.

“I dress for the image. Not for myself, not for the public, not for fashion, not for men.”

Marlene Dietrich After World War II Dietrich never really regained her screen status. She appeared in Golden Earrings (1947) for Mitchell Leisen; A Foreign Affair (1948) for Billy Wilder; and Stage Fright for Alfred Hitchcock.

She also had parts in Rancho Notorious (1952) and Billy Wilder’s Witness for the Prosecution – in which she was marvellous and should have received an Academy Award nomination. Orson Welles was a good friend and she appeared with him in Touch of Evil (1958). Her next major film was Judgement at Nuremberg (1961), directed by Stanley Kramer. She also presented the narrative for Black Fox: The Rise and Fall of Adolph Hitler – which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1962.

“There is a gigantic difference between a great deal of money and being rich.”

Marlene Dietrich Right throughout the early 1950s until the mid 1970s Marlene Dietrich performed worldwide as a cabaret artist. She was very much at home performing on the stage, sometimes duplicating parts she had played on the screen. She was wellrehearsed and confident. She was paid $30,000 a week in 1953 to appear at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas in a daring “nude” dress which gave the effect of transparency. The next year she appeared at the Café de Paris in London in the same dress – designed by Jean MARLENE Louis. I was there. So was Lord Louis Dietrich in No Mountbatten. She was breathtaking – Highway an image almost an allure, of slender sophistication. It was an enormously popular night club act. She employed Burt Bacharach in 1957 to arrange her musical programme and he worked with Dietrich for seven years to dramatic effect. They made several records together and she praised Bacharach for giving her the inspiration for the shows. She was ageless toured well into her sixties. She continued to create a stagecrafted illusion.

Friday, December 4, 2020

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

Friday, December 4, 2020 “What she does is neither difficult nor diverting, but the fact that she does it at all fills the onlookers with wonder ... It takes two to make a conjuring trick: the illusionist’s sleight of hand and the stooge’s desire to be deceived. To these necessary elements (her own technical competence and her audience’s sentimentality) Marlene Dietrich adds a third – the mysterious force of her own belief in her own magic. Those who find themselves unable to share this belief tend to blame themselves rather than her.”

Francis Wyndham British author and literary editor Dietrich’s use of body-sculpting undergarments, expert make-up and wigs, together with careful stage lighting helped create Dietrich’s glamorous image as she got older. She usually performed the first part of her show in one of her tight white body-hugging dresses, and then changed to top-hat and tails for the second half. She sang old tunes: “One for My Baby”; “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby”; “La Vie en Rose”; and some German song like “Das Lied ist Aus”. She usually included “See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have” – always a show-stopper. She returned to West Germany in 1960 and filled Berlin’s Titania-Palast Theatre – but the crowd was not all with her. Some protesters remembered her betrayal and ordered her to “Go Home”. The tour left her emotionally drained. She had not expected the hostility. However her shows on Broadway, in 1967 and 1968, were popular, and she won a Tony Award in 1968. She was paid $250,000 for a film version of An Evening with Marlene Dietrich which was shown in London MARLENE in November 1972, and in the US in JanuDietrich in ary 1973. She continued with her busy Blonde Venus performance schedule until September 1975.

“Do you think this is glamorous? That this is a great life, and that I do it for my health?

Well, it isn’t. It’s hard work, and who would work if they didn’t have to?”

Marlene Dietrich Marlene Dietrich’s show business career ended on 29 September 1975 when she fell off the stage during a performance in Sydney, Australia, and broke her thigh bone. Her health had been declining for ten years anyway. She had survived cervical cancer and suffered from poor circulation in her legs. For some time she had been increasingly dependent on alcohol and painkillers.

Her husband Rudolf Sieber died on 24 June 1976 of cancer. They remained married, but were hardly ever together. Her last film appearance was in Just a Gigolo (1979) starring David Bowie. She sang the title song. After that she slipped away to her Paris apartment at 12 Avenue Montaigne, and spent her final 13 years, bedridden, almost a recluse, allowing only a very few family members and employees in to see her. Her autobiography Nehmt Nur Mein Leben/Take Just My Life was published in 1979.

“I’m worth more dead than alive. Don’t cry for me after I’ve gone; cry for me now.”

Marlene Dietrich Curiously, in 1982, Dietrich agreed to participate

in a documentary film about her life, Marlene (1984), but refused to let anyone film her. The German film director Maximilian Schell was only allowed to record her voice, and he used this as the mainstay of the documentary which included film clips from her career. It was an eerie, ghostly, and somewhat frustrating documentary, but won accolades in Europe and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary in 1984.

Marlene Dietrich died of kidney failure in her apartment in Paris on 6 May 1992. She was 90 years old. Her funeral was a Roman Catholic Requiem Mass held at La Madeleine in Paris on 14 May 1992. The service was attended by over fifteen hundred mourners including ambassadors from the US, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Russia. She was buried, as she wished, in her birthplace Berlin. Dietrich was interred at the Strädtischer Friedhoff III, Schöneberg, near the grave of her mother Josefine von Losch, and near the house where she was born.

“When you’re dead, you’re dead. That’s it.”

Marlene Dietrich Most of Marlene Dietrich’s personal life was kept secret. She was bisexual. She enjoyed the gay bars and drag balls of 1920s Berlin. Her husband Rudolf remained distant in the San Fernando Valley but kept in touch with Dietrich with letters of biting comments about her many affairs – some lasting decades. She used to send him her intimate

correspondence. Dietrich supported her husband, and his mistress, first in Europe and finally in the San Fernando Valley near Hollywood until he died in 1976.

During the filming of Morocco (1930) she had an affair with Gary Cooper. She also had an intimate relationship with John Gilbert – even though he was personally involved with Greta Garbo at the time. Douglas Fairbanks Jr was married to Joan Crawford during Dietrich’s brief affair with him.

Her affair with James Stewart only lasted during the filming of Destry Rides Again. It was kept secret – as were most of Stewart’s romantic relationships. Her involvement with the French actor Jean Gabin ended in 1948.

“I am at heart a gentleman.”

Marlene Dietrich

Dietrich’s affair in Paris with Suzanne Baulé, a cabaret hostess, lasted from 1936 until the 1970s – and they always remained friends. The American author Mercedes de Acosta was also one of her lovers – which included Greta Garbo.

“The Sewing Circle” was a term used by Dietrich to describe the underground, closeted lesbian and bisexual film actresses in Hollywood which included Ann Warner (the wife of studio boss Jack L Warner), Lili Damita (one-time wife of Errol Flynn), Claudette Colbert and Dolores del Rio – whom Dietrich regarded as the most beautiful woman in Hollywood. Edith Piaf, in the 1950s, was also more than just a close friend.

“The average man is more interested in a woman who is interested in him than he is in a woman with beautiful legs.”

Marlene Dietrich Yul Brynner’s love affair with Marlene Dietrich lasted more than a decade and overlapped with several of her other lovers – among them Errol Flynn, John F Kennedy, Joseph Kennedy, Michael Todd, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Frank Sinatra.

On 24 October 1993, the largest part of Dietrich’s estate, including textile items, stage and film costumes, and over 15,000 photographs

by Cecil Beaton, Horst P Horst, George Hurrell, Lord Snowdon, and Edward Steichen; as well as 300,000 pages of documents and correspondence with Burt Bacharach, Yul Brynner, Maurice Chevalier, Noël Coward, Jean Gabin, Ernest Hemingway, Karl Lagerfeld, Ronald Reagan, Josef von Sternberg, Orson Welles and Billy Wilder was sold to the Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek in Germany for US $5m by Dietrich’s heirs. American institutions were not interested in her personal papers.

However, jewellery, items of clothing, and a painting by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, were sold by Sotheby’s in Los Angeles in November 1997 for $659,023 – not very much for one of the highest paid actresses of the era who traded on her glamorous image and exotic looks.

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. The author acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Nehmt nur mein Leben/Take Just my Life (1979) by Marlene Dietrich; Marlene (1989) by Salvator Attanasio; and Marlene Dietrich (2005) by Maria Riva.

14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 4, 2020

history

Quarantine Forgotten facts | Paul C Aranha

THREE years ago, I wrote about the old Quarantine Station, on Athol Island, located off the eastern tip of Paradise Island - but not in my wildest dreams did I imagine a pandemic in 2020 and a need for quarantine.

I confess that I have never visited the ruins of this station, but a report

by Colin Brooker and Evan Thompson, in the Journal of the Bahamas Historical Society, describes in detail what it must have looked like.

It was built around 1855, after the brigantine Marietta, sailing out of New York, was brought to Nassau, because three of her crew were sick with smallpox.

In their book Reminiscing: Memories of Old Nassau, Valeria Moseley Moss and Ronald G Lightbourn tell that “when yellow fever and cholera were rampant, government bought the island, to build the Quarantine Station and, even after World War I, when an epidemic of Spanish flu took thousands of lives worldwide, incoming passengers had to spend several gruesome death. The earliest sympdays in quarantine, before being tom - lethargy so intense that people allowed to land in Nassau". once believed laziness was a cause Long before the 2020 pandemic, of the disease - is debilitating. Your scurvy was a huge problem for sea body feels weak. Your joints ache. explorers of the 16th Your arms and legs swell, through 18th centuries, and your skin bruises at when sailors would be ‘Between the slightest touch. As at sea for several months the time of the disease progresses, at a time, with no access Columbus’s your gums become to fresh foods and, as a spongy and your breath result, whole fleets would transatlantic fetid, your teeth loosen, become sick with scurvy. voyage and and internal haemorVessels could be found, the advent of rhaging makes splotches with sails up, but not one on your skin. Old steam engines living soul. wounds open; mucous Between the time of in the midmembranes bleed. Left Columbus’s transatlantic untreated, you will die.

19th century, voyage and the advent Many died every day, and of steam engines in the scurvy killed bodies were thrown into mid-19th century, scurvy more than two the sea, three or four at killed more than two a time. million sailors.’ million sailors. The probNobody on board was lem was so common that immune to scurvy but, shipowners assumed a 50 percent on any vessel, certain crew memdeath rate, on any major voyage. bers were seldom infected. Why? None of the potential fates – because those crew members ate awaiting sailors was pleasant, the rats that infested the bilges of but scurvy exacted a particularly every ship. They would buy rats from

the sailors who worked deep below deck.

It was later found that rats produce vitamin C and, by 1746, James Lind, a British naval surgeon, discovered that the vitamin C in oranges and lemons was effective in protecting from scurvy. After this discovery, British ships carried

lemon juice on board and the incidence of scurvy among British sailors plummeted. This is how ‘Limey’ became a nickname for Englishmen.

Seventy-four years ago, Lind found a simple solution to the scourge of scurvy. Let us hope that modern science will rid us of the coronavirus.

The Tribune | Weekend |15

Friday, December 4, 2020

animals

THE STOWAWAY

By KIM ARANHA JUST imagine what it must be like to be a little owl sleeping peacefully in an enormous Christmas tree when all of a sudden you wake up and you are on an huge flat bed truck heading for New York City - fortunately they probably drove quite slowly to avoid damaging the tree and the little owl was probably pretty safe nestled in the branches, but still what a surprise!

This is exactly what happened when the gigantic, traditional, Christmas tree was transported to Rockefeller Plaza.

You know the famous, spectacularly decorated one that graces one of New York’s most recognisable landmarks.

One of the many workmen responsible for the transport and installation of the Christmas tree found a small, but adult, female owl nestled in the braches of the Christmas tree. What a lovely man this was!: He immediately retrieved her from the tree and wrapped her up carefully. He and a co-worker quickly got in touch with a wildlife rescue centre: Ravensbeard Wildlife Centre director Ellen Kalish said it was just like a scene from a movie.

The small owl was instantly named Rockefeller and as soon as she was dropped off, after her medical evaluation, was given fluids because she was severely dehydrated after the three day ride stuck in the tree on the truck.

She was given “as many” mice as she could eat because she was a very hungry little owl. She was also such a lucky little bird to not get crushed.

During her check up, they x-rayed her to see if there were any injuries and the results were amazingly positive, that in spite all she had gone through she was remarkably healthy.

“Rockefeller” is a Saw-Whet owl, the smallest type of owl in the northeast United States. They do not grow any bigger than about 8 inches tall and have the most enchanting and captivating eyes. These owls are considered very nocturnal, which means that you do not see them unless you are really on the lookout for them. Some of these little owls travel south for migration purposes, but others prefer to stay in the north and brave the winter, which they appear to do quite happily.

There are approximately two million of the saw-whet owls in the United States. They are a bit fickle in their love life as they apparently find

a new mate every year and then move on the next year to another mate.

The Ravensbeard Wildlife Centre is just a stop off “hospital” for wildlife who have run into problems and they stay there until they have been successfully rehabilitated.

After a few days in the center, “Rocky” was checked over by the vets and declared healthy enough to be released back in to the wilds.

There was a very touching video of her perched on the finger of one of the wildlife center warden’s finger and looking around before taking flight up into yet another fir tree.

We are all hopeful that “Rocky” will be left in peace and that she will no longer hear the buzz of a chainsaw or end up being jiggled around on a truck, and that she will be left alone to continue her life as nature intended, a new husband every year and I suppose a rather lot of children.

Her rescue brings to mind the many rescues that our two dedicated “Bird Ladies” Maggie and Melissa make every year here in Nassau. I personally have delivered several birds to them after having discovered that I do not have the gift of saving baby birds.

Maggie and Melissa are legendary and have raised sea birds, lake birds, pigeons, big birds, little birds, young, old, injured or tired. They put hours into their tireless care and nurture each one with such love and compassion.

I often wonder how they find the strength and courage to let them fly away, out of their reach and out of

THE OWL found in the Rockefeller Tree.

Photo: Courtesy Ravensbeard Wildlife Center their arms, but I suspect never out of elation when you succeed and you their hearts. see your patient take flight, high up I believe that they both have a few in the sly and head off to the life they rescues who hang around their gardens, have been created to enjoy. or who fly back for a meal or two, someI felt little Rocky’s story was very times they even bring their new mates suitable for a Christmas tale during to meet the ladies who saved them. this rather difficult time that we are The world of rescue can be very living in at the moment. difficult for the humans who are the Here’s hoping that all of the wildangels, it is difficult when you fail and life here and away have a safe and the bird dies and there is sadness yet undisturbed Christmas.

pet of the week

PRETTY GIRL

my pretty paws. Do you need something pretty in your lockdown life? (Yes, I know they’re over, but you’re still home a lot, perfect for me!) Come meet me at the Bahamas Humane Society or call 323-5138 for more information. I’ll be here sitting pretty, waiting for you!”

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

“ADJECTIVE, schmadjective.

The only one you need for me is pretty! Pretty Girl’s my name, and looking pretty is my game! I’m the cat you need on your lap, in your home, as part of your life. No other cat is prettier than me! I even pose well! I’m about one year old and fairly settled, so you won’t be seeing those kittenish antics from

PHOTO/Linda Gill-Aranha

BHS Raffle tickets are now available! Grand prize is $10,000 worth of groceries from Super Value, and the other prizes are amazingly useful coupons, too! Tickets are $5 each or a book of 21 for $100. Pick yours up today at the BHS or at Fox Hill Nursery.

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

A new way to discover local talent

Friday, December 4, 2020

entertainment

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net HENNESSY Artistry has been celebrating and spotlighting the local arts and musical talent for quite some time now, striving to be a platform for creative culture.

This year, while we are still in the midst of a pandemic, Commonwealth Brewery Limited has decided to host an all-virtual experience, set to air tomorrow and Sunday, beginning at 8pm on both nights.

Hennessy Artistry has been around for over seven years and has become a staple in local entertainment.

“This year we had to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but if you know anything about Hennessy and Hennessy Artistry, we ‘never stop, never settle’. We had to find a way to entertain our consumers while taking the opportunity to showcase local talent,” said Mia Marshall, Spirits brand manager at CBL. There were many ideas about how this year’s event should be presented, so the Hennessy Artistry team went back to the drawing board to establish the way forward for the event in 2020. Not having an event at all would have felt like a disservice to the community, the team said.

“We had so many thoughts on how Hennessy Artistry might look this year but we landed on a virtual experience which would be safest for our consumers and patrons. We also thought it a great opportunity to show everyone that Hennessy Artistry has many levels and endless possibilities of what the experience can be,” said Ms Marshall.

Obviously, there will not be a concert to experience this year, but the event will stay true to its form of showcasing the very best creative talent.

“It is still heavily focused on all of the amazing elements that make Hennessy Artistry so much fun.

Entertainment, mixology and a mash up of many art mediums,” she said.

“It was important to us to feature our local talent during this time for so many reasons. Not only do we want to support our art community,

we wanted to showcase their amazing talent to the rest of the Bahamas and the world. Some of our artists like Stefan Legend -painting, Scharad Lightbourne – photography, and DJ Ignite (DJ) are more established, while other up-and-coming artists like Keeya, Drew Harmony and Erin Reign also have a lot to offer and make for a great show.

We also have a feature from Derrick Blackmon, a renowned local bartender with impeccable mixology skills,” said Ms Marshall.

In addition to it being a virtual

event this year, what is unique about Hennessy Artistry this time around is that audiences will get to learn much more about the talent in a more intimate. The experience, she said, lends itself to Bahamians learning about their fellow talented countrymen and women in a nontraditional yet fun way.

“This year, though virtual, Hennessy Artistry is still packed with entertainment and energy. Keeya and Drew Harmony both recently dropped new music and will be giving live performances. Even more so our

host, the incomparable Alek Kauffman, aka Bahayogi, has such an infectious laugh and a way of bringing our artists to life. That is its own entertainment,” said Ms Marshal.

There are expected to be lots of prizes and giveaways during this virtual event.

The event airs on Saturday, December 5, and Sunday, December 6, at 8pm on both @hennessybahamas on Instagram and @700winesandspirits on Facebook.

The show will also air on December 6-7 on Island Luck TV at 8.30pm each night.